Tips For Planning a Camping Adventure in Ontario

Experiencing
Ontario doesn't end with Toronto; in fact it's just the beginning. Even as Canada's
most populated province, Ontario has enviable elbowroom, and once you detach
yourself from the hyper-urbanism of Southern Ontario, it won't be long before
you're awash in the wilderness for which Canada is famous.

How you
decide to plan your Ontario camping trip depends as much on your
adventurousness as your wallet. From luxury lakeside cabins to crashing under
the stars in a sleeping bag, the options are nearly endless, but here are a few
things to keep in mind.

Season

Canada's
nickname, "the Great White North," is not a case of mistaken
identity. Forget this and you're up a frozen creek without an ice auger.

Simply
put, winters in Ontario are brutal, and unless you're willing to part with a
frostbitten toe or two, indoor camping is the most sensible option for all but
the most adventurous from November until at least April.

When the
pleasantly warm summers roll in, however, Ontarians flock to their favorite
camping quarters to while away their vacation days in the great outdoors.

Summer
is the perfect time for camping in Ontario's provincial and national parks.
Consider grabbing a tent or camper and heading out to one of these favorite
Ontario summer hotspots: Killarney Provincial Park, Algonquin Provincial Park,
or Bruce Peninsula National Park.

Location

Not all
camping experiences are created equal, and whether you'll battle for shade with
hordes of vacationers or bask in complete solitude depends mostly on how far
you're willing to stray.

In
popular campgrounds and parks close to major centres, expect a little company. For
those willing to go the extra mile for serenity, head into Ontario's north
where the crowds shrink and the bush becomes ever more rugged.

If
outdoor camping doesn't suit your travel style, renting a cabin can be your
ticket to experiencing Ontario's backwoods without sacrificing the comforts of
home. For a truly luxurious camping vacation, follow the trail of vacationing celebrities
to Muskoka, a popular region of lakes, craggy hills and dense forest mere hours
from Toronto.

Citizenship

Craving
a more offbeat adventure? Wild camping can connect you to the outdoors in a way
that staying in serviced campgrounds and provincial parks cannot. (And lest we
forget, it might even be free.)

Wild
camping on crown land is possible in Ontario with one small caveat:
non-Canadians may need special permits north of the French and Mattawa Rivers.

Even if
you're not a Canuck, don't fret—getting permission is not difficult. Renting a
camping unit—whether an RV, tent, trailer, or even a houseboat—from a licensed
outfitter is enough to fend off the requirement. If you'd rather use your own
tent, however, a permit, available at fish and wildlife licensers throughout
Northern Ontario, will set you back little more than $10 a day.

Have you
ever been on camping vacation in Ontario (or Canada)? What are some of your
favorite camping spots? Tell us about your experience in the comments section
below!

About the Author

A perfect storm of wandering wordsmith and travel photographer, Ryan O'Rourke lives and breathes travel. For the last decade, Ryan has roamed around the world, living in 4 different countries and visiting over 30 countries along the way with no signs of slowing down. Ryan's insatiable wanderlust inspired him to found Treksplorer where he now writes about his adventures and offers unconventional travel planning, language learning, and travel photography tips for independent travellers.

When not out and about, Ryan calls Northern Ontario home, and enjoys basking in the great Canadian outdoors and lazily chilling by the campfire with an acoustic guitar. Follow Ryan on Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, and Pinterest.